Dymista vs Flonase – Uses And Side Effects

Dymista vs Flonase – Uses And Side Effects:

Dymista

This medicine contains 2 drugs:

  • Fluticasone – a corticosteroid that lowers the human body’s response to allergy triggers;
  • Azelastine – an antihistamine that works by blocking specific natural substances (histamines) which can cause sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

In 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved this medicine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of this medicine was based on the results of three shorter-term safety studies and one long-term safety study in adults and children 12 years of age or older.

It is produced by Meda Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a company that provides pharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally.

Uses

It is used to treat nasal symptoms, like – nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itching, and watery eyes.

Dosage

It is supplied as a sprayed suspension created for intranasal administration. For the treatment of allergic rhinitis in adults and adolescents over the age of 12, the recommended dose of this medicine is one spray per nostril two times a day, in the morning and evening.

Also, this spray should be primed once before administration if not used in two weeks. Nevertheless, this nasal spray is not recommended for children under the age of 12.

More importantly, the first time you use it, you will need to prime this nasal spray’s pump by pressing it six times until you see a fine spray.

Side Effects

Common side effects include:

  • nasal problems;
  • drowsiness or sleepiness;
  • altered sense of taste;
  • nosebleed;
  • sinus pain;
  • headaches;
  • sore throat;
  • cough;
  • thrush (a fungal infection in your throat and nose);
  • eye problems, like – cataracts or glaucoma;
  • slow wound healing;
  • immune system problems that can actually increase the risk of infections.

Symptoms of an overdose with this nasal spray may include:

  • thinning skin;
  • easy bruising;
  • acne or increased facial hair;
  • changes in the shape of body fat;
  • loss of interest in sex;
  • menstrual problems.

Alcohol

It is recommended to avoid using other depressants, like – alcohol when using this medicine, as this can considerably worsen the level of drowsiness.

There is no adequate research in women for determining infant risk when using this nasal spray during breastfeeding, hence, it is better to stay on the safe side and avoid it as much as possible.

Specific medicines used to treat a runny nose or nasal congestion can increase the levels of azelastine/fluticasone in the human body. This increases the chances of the adverse effects of this nasal spray. Examples of these medicines include:

  • fluconazole (used to treat blastomycosis, candidiasis, cryptococcosis, coccidioidomycosis, dermatophytosis, histoplasmosis, and pityriasis versicolor);
  • itraconazole (used to treat blastomycosis, aspergillosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis);
  • ketoconazole (used for long periods at high doses, particularly in immunosuppressed suferrers).

Flonase

Flonase is a nasal spray containing fluticasone that belongs to a class of drugs known as corticosteroids, particularly glucocorticoids, which are a class of steroid hormones that mainly affect the metabolism of carbohydrates and, to a lesser extent, protein, and fat.

In addition, this medicine works on a variety of mediators and cells which are responsible for the inflammatory symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Uses

It is commonly used for nasal allergy symptoms, like – sneezing, itchy nose, and stuffy or runny nose.

Dosage

For children, 4 to 11 years old, the recommended dose of this medicine is one or 2 sprays in each nostril in the morning. However, the recommended maximum daily dose is 2 sprays in each nostril per day.

The use of this spray is not recommended in children younger than 4 years, since the use of this spray in children may cause them to grow slowly, according to the National Institutes of Health.

For adults and children 12 years and older, the recommended dose of this nasal spray is 2 sprays in each nostril once per day. Nevertheless, the maximum daily dose is 4 sprays in each nostril a day.

Note

People using it less frequently or first-time users need to release the first pump into the air.

Before using, you should also tell your healthcare professional if you have:

  • liver disease;
  • cataracts or glaucoma (a disorder that causes damage to the eye’s optic nerve);
  • herpes simplex virus of your eyes;
  • type 2 diabetes mellitus;
  • sores inside your nose;
  • tuberculosis;
  • if you have recently had surgery on your nose.

Side Effects

Common side effects include:

  • stinging, dryness, irritation, or burning in the nose;
  • headaches;
  • asthma symptoms, such as – shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or chest tightness;
  • vomiting;
  • nausea;
  • bloody mucus in the nose;
  • diarrhea;
  • nosebleeds;
  • sore throat;
  • lower white blood cells count (they are vital for well-being and health);
  • dizziness.

Moreover, prolonged use of this nasal spray at higher than recommended doses can notably increase the risk of these adverse effects.

In addition, individuals who regularly use this type of spray should have an examination of the nasal cavity at least once every 12 months to check for damage to the septum.

Since this nasal spray is actually a steroid, it can slow down the healing process of the body.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

According to recent studies, this nasal steroid spray is safe to use during pregnancy for mild to moderate symptoms of allergies.

Also, it is a nasal spray that reaches the bloodstream in extremely low amounts, and it is not likely that it would pass through breast milk.

Bottom Line – Dymista vs Flonase

Dymista (active ingredients – fluticasone and azelastine) is a medication that is used to treat the nasal and eye symptoms of moderate-to-severe seasonal allergies.

Flonase (active ingredient – fluticasone) is an anti-inflammatory nasal spray that is prescribed for people who need to reduce the inflammatory conditions associated with certain symptoms, like – runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and itchy nose.

Both are allergy medicines that belong to a class of drugs named corticosteroids, but they contain different substances. They can reduce inflammation caused by allergies, but they also have plenty of side effects.

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References

https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/D
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110615005714/en/MEDA-New-Positive
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01794741

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